DENVER, CO (September 8, 2024) - St Louis CITY2 earned a come-from-behind 3-1 victory over Colorado Rapids 2 in Denver on Sunday night. Colorado struck first in the ninth minute with a goal from Max Simpson, but St Louis responded right before halftime to even the score at 1-1. Brendan McSorley opened the second half with his sixth goal of the season, giving CITY2 the lead. After back-and-forth play, Michael Wentzel drilled his first goal of the season with a strike from outside the box to secure the 3-1 victory for CITY2. This was the fourth match in a row that CITY2 has scored three or more goals, with the performances propelling the team to first place in the MLS NEXT Pro overall standings with 49 points. St Louis CITY2 returns home on Sunday, September 15 to face Minnesota United FC 2 for the final time this season.
Postgame Notes
- Brendan McSorley scored his sixth goal of the season
- McSorley has now scored in three consecutive matches
- McSorley is second in goals scored for CITY2
- Michael Wentzel scored his first goal of the season
- Wentzel is the 11th different player to record a goal for CITY2 this season
- With his assist on Wentzel’s goal, John Klein pushed his team-leading tally to five assists on the year
- CITY2 won its fourth straight match and has the most wins in the league (15)
- CITY2 tied FC Cincinnati 2 for the most away victories (7) in MLS NEXT Pro
- CITY2 moved to 11-1-0 when scoring two or more goals this season
- CITY2 has scored three or more goals in each of their last four matches, with the team netting 13 total goals in that span
- St Louis holds first place in MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference standings with 49 points and is first in MLS NEXT Pro overall standings
Goal-Scoring Plays
COL: Max Simpson (Colton Swan), 9th minute – Max Simpson scored a left footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner.
STL: Ricardo Pena (own goal), 42nd minute – Ricardo Pena scored a header from the center of the box to the bottom left corner.
STL: Brendan McSorley, 54th minute – Brendan McSorley scored a right footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner.
STL: Michael Wentzel (John Klein), 88th minute – Michael Wentzel scored a right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner.
Scoring Summary
COL: Max Simpson (Colton Swan), 9’
STL: Ricardo Pena (own goal), 42’
STL: Brendan McSorley, 54’
STL: Michael Wentzel (John Klein), 88’
Misconduct Summary
COL: Ricardo Pena (caution), 45’ +1
STL: Michael Wentzel (caution), 58’
STL: Mykhi Joyner (caution), 63’
COL: Josh Belluz (caution), 79’
STL: Lucas Demitra (caution), 90’+1
COL: Vincent Rinaldi (caution), 90’+2
Lineups
COL: GK Ethan Bandré; D Steve Flores ©, D Daniel Chacón (Josh Belluz, 17’), D Nate Jones (Vincent Rinaldi, 46’) D Miguel Alvarado (Logan Batiste, 79’); M Max Simpson (Peter Venegas, 65’), M Ricardo Pena (Patrick Dormoh, 78’), M Robinson Aguirre Ortega; F Colton Swan, F Alec Díaz, F Noah Strellnauer
Substitutes Not Used: GK Leonardo Medina
TOTAL SHOTS: 8; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 13; OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 6
STL: GK Christian Olivares; D Hosei Kijima (Lucas Demitra, 86’), D Michael Wentzel, D Gabi Mikina ©, D Tyson Pearce; M Seth Antwi, M Matteo Kidd (Ryan Becher, 67’), M John Klein, M Mykhi Joyner (Ryan Dugan, 76’), F Caden Glover (Dida Armstrong, 76’) F Brendan McSorley
Substitutes Not Used: GK Nick Bishop, D Oscar Benitez, D Eric Kinzner, M Edin Clark
TOTAL SHOTS: 22; SHOTS ON GOAL: 8; FOULS: 10; OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 3
Referee: Lukasz Jozefecki
Assistant Referees: Salvador Reyes, Jarred Mosher
Fourth Official: James Morgan
Venue: University of Denver Soccer Stadium
Weather: Sunny, 86 degrees
